Romney answers the antiwar crowd
Mitt Romney was challenged by an antiwar activist at a recent stop today. It was a set-up; an ambush. Mitt didn't get flustered. He wasn't rude. He dealt with her directly, and explained that his sons didn't need to serve to support the war:
Despite his call for the nation to show a "surge of support" for U.S. forces in Iraq, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist. The former Massachusetts governor said his sons were showing their support for the country by "helping get me elected."
Romney, who did not serve in Vietnam due to his Mormon missionary work and a high draft lottery number, was posed the question by an anti-war activist after a speech in which Romney saluted a uniformed soldier in the crowd and called for donations to military support organizations.
Last week the presidential candidate donated $25,000 to seven such organizations.
"The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it," Romney told some 200 people gathered in an abbey near the Mississippi River that had been converted into a hotel. "My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard."
He added: "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."
Romney's five sons range in age from 37 to 26 and have worked as real estate developers, sports marketers and advertising executives. They are now actively campaigning for their father and have a "Five Brothers" blog on Romney's campaign Web site.
This is asinine, and frankly we're tired of this "chickenhawk" meme the Left is throwing out there. I'd like to know where there "chickenhawk" accusations were when we were in somalia and Kosovo under President Clinton, because this seems to have only come around since 11 September. Speaking from a personal point-of-view, I find it anti-American to even question those that either don't have the calling to serve in this nation's military, or don't have the physical endurance (like I did) to serve. Just because someone doesn't serve doesn't make them any less patriotic than the next person.
In world War II, such accusations weren't tossed around because this nation was firmly behind the mission at the time. The same rings true today. While I find the statement about Romney's sons helping this nation by working to get him elected amusing, it doesn't address the overall point. his son's decisions to not join is the point. they thought they were serving the nation in their best capacity by running their businesses, and keeping the economy going. (Memo to the Left -- You need a good economy to run an effective war; World War II proved that when we ramped up our industries to combat Nazism and Japanese imperialism.) We are doing it again today, the only difference is that our economy wasn't in the tank this time around like it was when the Second World War started up.
Some hear the call, and others don't. But those that make the personal call that because someone isn't serving isn't patriotic, or is acting like a "chickenhawk" is reprehensible. I applaud Mitt romney for standing up to the antiwar fever-swamp. It's time that these people got slapped upside the head, and are told to shut up if they have nothing constructive to add to the debate.
Publius II
Despite his call for the nation to show a "surge of support" for U.S. forces in Iraq, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist. The former Massachusetts governor said his sons were showing their support for the country by "helping get me elected."
Romney, who did not serve in Vietnam due to his Mormon missionary work and a high draft lottery number, was posed the question by an anti-war activist after a speech in which Romney saluted a uniformed soldier in the crowd and called for donations to military support organizations.
Last week the presidential candidate donated $25,000 to seven such organizations.
"The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it," Romney told some 200 people gathered in an abbey near the Mississippi River that had been converted into a hotel. "My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard."
He added: "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."
Romney's five sons range in age from 37 to 26 and have worked as real estate developers, sports marketers and advertising executives. They are now actively campaigning for their father and have a "Five Brothers" blog on Romney's campaign Web site.
This is asinine, and frankly we're tired of this "chickenhawk" meme the Left is throwing out there. I'd like to know where there "chickenhawk" accusations were when we were in somalia and Kosovo under President Clinton, because this seems to have only come around since 11 September. Speaking from a personal point-of-view, I find it anti-American to even question those that either don't have the calling to serve in this nation's military, or don't have the physical endurance (like I did) to serve. Just because someone doesn't serve doesn't make them any less patriotic than the next person.
In world War II, such accusations weren't tossed around because this nation was firmly behind the mission at the time. The same rings true today. While I find the statement about Romney's sons helping this nation by working to get him elected amusing, it doesn't address the overall point. his son's decisions to not join is the point. they thought they were serving the nation in their best capacity by running their businesses, and keeping the economy going. (Memo to the Left -- You need a good economy to run an effective war; World War II proved that when we ramped up our industries to combat Nazism and Japanese imperialism.) We are doing it again today, the only difference is that our economy wasn't in the tank this time around like it was when the Second World War started up.
Some hear the call, and others don't. But those that make the personal call that because someone isn't serving isn't patriotic, or is acting like a "chickenhawk" is reprehensible. I applaud Mitt romney for standing up to the antiwar fever-swamp. It's time that these people got slapped upside the head, and are told to shut up if they have nothing constructive to add to the debate.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 8:58 PM
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